Much has been made of Joe Root’s batting record in Australia, where the former English skipper averages 35.7 from 14 Tests.
It’s not like Root has always failed with the bat on Australian shores. The right-hander has passed 50 on nine occasions — and registered three scores in the 80s — yet has never gone on to make a century.
And like certain fine wines, Root seems to be getting better with age. After averaging 47.8 in 2022 (which improves to 51.5 if you exclude the two Tests he played in Australia in January), Root averaged 65.6 in 2023, 55.6 in 2024, and 63.4 in 2025.
Before 2023 Root had averaged above 60 just four times. That’s a career resurgence, not fading away into nothing.
With the 2025/26 Ashes potentially being Root’s last series Down Under, the quest for his elusive century on Aussie soil will be one of the most followed storylines throughout the summer — but where is he most likely to score that ton?
Australia’s Steve Smith celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss Joe Root in Perth in 2017. (Getty Images: Jason O’Brien)
There have been 11 five-Test series where Root has played in all five matches. He has scored 12 centuries across these 55 Tests, but only two of these came playing outside of England — both against India in India. The first century came in 2016 in Rajkot (the first Test of that tour), while the second came eight years later in Ranchi (the fourth Test of that Tour).
The Ashes starts tomorrow in Perth and we should not be expecting great things from the 34-year-old here.
Root and his English teammates have not played a Test at Perth Stadium before, and his record at the old WACA ground left a lot to be desired (an average of 14.3 from four innings). His scores of 1 and 31 against the second-string England Lions at Lilac Hill make it hard for even the staunchest English supporter to argue Root will achieve the feat in question in the opening match of the series.
Root’s second innings at the Gabba in the 2021/22 Ashes is the closest he has come to a ton in Australia, falling 11 runs short after being caught behind off Cameron Green. Brisbane will host the day-night Test this summer, getting the nod ahead of Adelaide, which has hosted seven pink ball Tests since the inaugural clash with New Zealand back in 2015.
Root walks off the ground in 2021 after Cameron Green claimed his wicket at the Gabba. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
Root has only managed one century against the pink ball (against the West Indies in Birmingham in 2017) and averages 34.5 against the Aussies under lights. His average in day-night tests (38.5, but 42.0 if you exclude the three day-night Tests against Australia) is also down on his average in “traditional” tests (52).
The question of how much stock to put in Root’s results from pink ball Tests is also relevant when discussing the possibility of him making a century in Adelaide.
Root has scored more runs (264) and half-centuries (three) at the Adelaide Oval than any other venue in the country, although two of the three Tests he has played in the City of Churches have been under lights. Nathan Lyon dismissed Root in both innings during the “traditional” Adelaide Test during the 2013/14 series, while Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc have all knocked him over once during the two pink ball Tests.
Mitchell Starc celebrates after claiming Root’s wicket in Adelaide in 2021. (Getty Images: Daniel Kalisz)
The current number one ranked Test batter has also made two half-centuries in Melbourne, although it remains to be seen whether any psychological scars remain after England’s most recent five-day outing at the venue. Scott Boland ripped through England in the second innings in 2021, although Root (who was one of Boland’s victims) top scored with 28.
Finally, Root’s somewhat complicated past with SCG could make it difficult to reach three figures here, particularly if the Aussies have wrapped up the series by this point and the English are only playing for pride (or a moral victory).
Root was dropped for the Sydney Test during the 2013/14 Ashes after only passing 30 once in the previous four Tests, performed significantly better during the 2017/18 series (83 and 58 not out), but fared worse in 2021/22 (0 and 24). Only time will tell if, and how much, pressure Root is under to make a century in the final match of the series.
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Overall, it seems there are two clear stand-outs for a probable ground for Root to break his hundred drought: Brisbane and Adelaide.
It’s difficult to separate the two, yet if we had to pick one, Adelaide is the most likely venue for Root to finally make a century on Australian soil.
Adelaide is traditionally a batting-friendly wicket. Across the 83 Tests played at the venue since 1884, it delivers an average of 35.1 runs per wicket — the highest of any of this summer’s five Test venues. The Gabba is also up there (32.3), ahead of the SCG (30.9), Perth Stadium (30.8), and the MCG (30.0). I feel this plays into Root’s favour.
We won’t go as far as former champion fast bowler Jason Gillespie and say that Root “will score a Test hundred or two on this tour”, but if it happens, it will likely happen in Adelaide.